Doing Life Together

Trouble comes and we often feel alone, even abandoned. Because of a crisis, we may feel as if there is no one who can understand us or help us through a painful time. And if we grew up in a family in which feelings of abandonment are easily triggered, we can become depressed and anxious.…

We tend to think that having high expectations for ourselves or even other people is a good thing, but is it? John always wanted to go to medical school, but felt like no one ever guided him towards that goal. So when he saw his daughter do well in biology and chemistry, he decided to…

Why do we get so angry at our moms? Is it because we know we can and they won’t leave us? Is it because we are too much alike? Or is it because it is such an intimate, important relationship that we have lots of expectations? Have you ever said or thought, “I love my…

No one likes to be out of control and feel vulnerable. In a moment, our lives can be changed through no action of our own. Things happen. Most of us have personal stories of loss and suffering. They may involve a stepfather who was sexually abusive; a mom who died from breast cancer; parents who…

Today, we remember Good Friday. Do you sometimes feel as if your life is lived in a perpetual Good Friday mode? Like the movie, Groundhog Day, it seems you are replaying the same bad day over and over, fighting despair and struggling. Disease, broken relationships, prodigal children…the landscape looks bleak and can easily lead to…

The wedding day was just like she dreamed it would be. Dressed in a stunning designer gown, surrounded by beautiful bouquets of flowers, a handsome groom and gracious guests, the $20,000 price tag was a financial stretch. But Julie wanted a wedding to remember. Unfortunately, the wedding became her complete focus and not the man…

Do you watch TV, go to the movies or read the covers of fashion magazines? If so, you may be led to believe that your sexual appetite drives your daily life. Why? Because this is a central message of popular media. Well, move over Freud, this doesn’t have to be! Even though our culture is…

A problem for both kids and adults is eating out of emotional needs. I’ve worked with a number of kids who eat because of marital tension or the threat of divorce in their homes. Many kids eat to cope with stress and anxiety over performance and perfection issues, some eat because of insecurities in peer relationships,…

We all have anxiety now and then, but holding on to anxiety is a problem. To be anxious about nothing is a biblical command, and one that most of us find challenging. Anxiety is that feeling of worry or uneasiness related to something with an uncertain outcome. Fear of the future is involved. Yet, over 300…

“It’s too broken. Nothing can fix this relationship.” This statement has been repeated by couples all over the country. The truth is, it’s never too late to fix a broken relationship with God in the equation . I know that sounds like a cliché but it isn’t. Here’s why. At the root of our relationship struggles is…

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